This week the Nursery Theatre has its grand opening in London. The theatre was open at the end of the last season but this time round it’s to make everything official! To celebrate the opening, there is a formal opening ceremony this week! I sat down with one of the Founders, Jules Munns to discuss everything that is happening!

 Exciting times ahead for The Nursery! Tell us a little bit about the Grand Opening that’s happening?

Opening the theatre happened very quickly. We didn’t want to announce it until we were 100% sure it was going ahead, and then we wanted to start doing shows as soon as possible. So we almost didn’t notice that we hadn’t had an official opening night! There was a lot to do. So when we got to programming the autumn season, that was the first thing on our list.

There will be a jam, champagne and probably some tearful speeches. Judith (the other founder of The Nursery) loves a cry. Plus, everyone likes to dress up, don’t they?
What shows do you have lined up this season?

So many! Lots of the teams and shows from last season, plus we are re-introducing Nursery Originals, which are ambitious shows that we produce in-house, based on a rep theatre model. We’ve got improvised Twin Peaks, a dream musical called Dreamweaver Quartet and United, which is inspired by the enthusiasm and support of five-a-side football. Oh, and cabaret, our Slapdash international festival, a Star Wars special, so much…
What about classes? What can people get involved in and how?
We have two drop-in classes every week with The Maydays, which are open to everyone, whatever your experience level. Plus a host of courses, electives and international visitors, including a bunch here for Slapdash in October.

We also have a four-week beginner course, and I am excited to be teaching Organic Longform again starting in October. That’s a really fun one.
How did The Nursery originally form?
Judith, Robin and a couple of others had just graduated drama school and we wanted to put on some shows. So we called it a festival, then realised that meant we had to do it again. We never really intended to start a thing, and almost ten years later, here we are, still doing it and still friends!

There are many schools of improv in London is there any rivalry between you all?
Absolutely not. Or not from me, anyway! When I started improvising, there was so little improv in London. It’s great that there is now so much choice, and that the artform has so much visibility. It’s a big city, there’s space for everybody.
You’re one of the sole companies that are embracing modern technology and live streaming shows – how did this come around?

Mostly because of Rob, who works in the office and loves to play with things until they work. We were getting the theatre built and he just kept fiddling and upgrading until it looked and sounded as good as it does.
Do you think the humour of the improv show gets lost online? Why do you think it’s important to stream shows?

Watching a show online, whatever it is, is going to lose the thrilling immediacy of the live experience. It’s just not quite as good when it’s not shared. However, there are many people across the UK, and indeed the world, who can’t get down to an improv show at the weekend.

Maybe they live somewhere with a less thriving community, maybe they have kids or a relative to look after, or maybe they find loud social situations challenging. If we can give those folks the next best thing to seeing a live show, I’m happy.

There is a lot of talk about diversity in improv at the moment and I think this is a powerful tool to increase it in some areas which get talked about less.
What other new technologies does The Nursery want to embrace in the up and coming year?

I’m not sure if I’m allowed to answer that question. Rob and I have been talking about a pretty exciting new experiment that may start to appear in the next few months. We’re taking the streaming and adding the next stage of tech to it… So, watch this space.
As well as that, we do have a Halloween show planned, which is based on Atmosfear – that old ’80s board game where a dungeon master on a screen messes with you.

Where do you see the nursery in 5 years’ time?
The next big step for us would be a permanent building with a theatre and a training space. If there are millionaires out there who love improv, please help us out!

If people want to find out more about The Nursery how can they do this?
Lots of different ways. Our autumn season starts on the 15th September with the Grand Opening and Fancy Pants Jam. The website (www.thenurserytheatre.com), Twitter (@nurserytheatre) and Facebook (TheNursery).
You can also subscribe to our channel on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1To8WzN2d1hNntNA5_B1Qw), which will notify you of the shows coming up on the livestream and also allow you to watch them after they’ve been streamed – so you’ll never have to miss a show!